Find out about all the exciting things happening in libraries near you
As Self-Care Week approaches, we are stepping up to support the wellbeing of the community. This annual event, dedicated to promoting healthy lifestyle choices and self-care practices, will see libraries across Surrey hosting a variety of activities and resources to help residents take charge of their health and wellbeing.
There's always something exciting happening in libraries across Surrey. Keep reading for our top 10 events in libraries happening this month.
National Self-Care Week
National Self-Care Week will run from 18 to 24 November. Many of our services and events will empower you to look better after your physical health and mental wellbeing. As part of Self-Care Week, several libraries will put on special events that week including the following at Caterham Valley Library.
- 'Warm Welcome' Mindfulness event on Wednesday 20 November
- NHS help-day with their Digital Buddy on Friday 22 November
- Knit and Natter session to combat loneliness on Friday 22 November
- Sketch Club event with a focus on art as therapy on Saturday 23 November
To find out what is going on in your local library, please visit our Libraries in Surrey webpage.
Warm Welcomes
Now in its third year, Surrey Libraries continue to support the Warm Welcome initiative. Our libraries are warm, welcoming, open and accessible spaces for the community, providing free Wi-Fi and computer access, free digital support, free hot and cold drinks, activity packs and community events such as jigsaw puzzle challenges and sketching clubs. This year's Warm Welcome scheme will launch in full on 1 November at Staines Library from 11am.
Author event for children
Frog in a Fog, an interactive storytelling session with author Marielle Bayliss at Guildford Library on Saturday 23 November from 11am. Suitable for 3 to 6 years old. Suggested donation £4 per child. Adults go free.
To book your tickets, please visit our Eventbrite web page.
Author events for adults
- Author Faye Murphy will be discussing her debut novel 'The Dishonest Miss Take' at Farnham Library on Tuesday 19 November from 7.15pm. Tickets £3.
- Bestselling author Catherine Steadman will talk about her brand-new novel 'Look in the Mirror' at Camberley Library on Tuesday 19 November from 7.30pm. Tickets £6.
- Ben Aaronovitch will be discussing his latest 'Rivers of London' book with author Mark Stay at Oxted Library on 26 November from 6.30pm. Tickets £7.
- BASK Monthly Book Club. Join The Booklady, Tobi, who will speak with author Jendella Bensona, at Guildford Library on Saturday 30 November from 2pm . Tickets £4.
To book your tickets, please visit our Eventbrite web page.
Surrey History Centre virtual talk – Surrey authors
Did you know that some of the best loved and most influential books of recent centuries have come from writers with links to Surrey? Daniel Defoe, Arthur Conan Doyle, Agatha Christie and Lewis Carroll, to name but a few, have all been inspired by Surrey to write some of the most enduring literature of all time. This is a virtual event from the Surrey History Centre on 13 November from 5.30pm to 6.45pm on Zoom. Tickets £6. Please book a place online.
Collect a Free Tree from a Surrey Library
In support of Surrey County Council's 1.2m Tree Strategy, to plant one tree for every Surrey resident by 2030, we had planned to be giving away free trees at several libraries on Saturday 16 November 2024. However, this event has been postponed.
Please follow our social media channels and this page for further updates.
Scam Awareness
Discover how Surrey Libraries is getting involved in Talk Money Week in November. This week is all about having more open conversations about money. Come along to our 'Spotting Scams' awareness session with Trading Standards at Farnham Library, on Tuesday 19 November from 10.30am to 12 noon. No need to book for this drop-in session.
Pokemon activity workshop
Join us for a session of Pokémon fun and adventure with booklets, cards, treasure hunt and colouring. This event on Saturday 2 November from 10.30am to 11.15am at Horley Library, is suitable for ages 5 and over. Cost £1 per child. No need to book, just turn up!
Pop Up Energy Action events
Energy Action Redhill and Reigate (EARR) is a community benefit society, serving East Surrey. They will host the following free events from 10am to 12 noon to promote energy efficiency measures and their home energy surveys:
- 14 November at Reigate Library: coffee morning, with an energy advice talk plus time after for individual advice
- 21 November at Merstham Library: drop-in advice session
- 12 December at Redhill Library (in temporary location): drop-in advice session
Remembrance Week – Poems and Prose
Join us at Esher Library on Thursday 7 November from 2pm to enjoy an afternoon of prose, poetry and stories with a First World War theme, spoken by actress Rachel Fielding and actor Max Hutchinson for Remembrance Week. Tickets £3.50.
To book your tickets, please visit our Eventbrite web page.
More from libraries news
- Summer Reading Challenge
- Inspiring young minds to celebrate Surrey’s ancient trees
- Health and activity trackers
- Super Access extends to four locations
- Surrey Libraries introduce biodegradable eco library cards
- Our Libraries are Where It Happens!
- Free online Driving Theory Test and British Citizenship test support
